Dechlorination/hydrogenation and destruction reactions of PCDDs in OCDD-added fly ash heated under vacuum

Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD)-added, pretreated fly ash was heated under vacuum at sample temperatures ranging from T(s)=450 to 650 K. The fly ash and liquid nitrogen-cooled trap samples were analyzed for DD/DF through OCDD/DF. The total amounts of DD through OCDD decrease with increasing T(s), which indicates that dechlorination/hydrogenation (DCH) reactions are not the only reaction channels. Reduction of toxic equivalent (TEQ) for PCDDs by more than 99% was achieved in the fly ash by the vacuum heat treatment at T(s)=650 K for 4 h. The total amount of PCDDs and DD detected in the liquid nitrogen-cooled trap relative to that of added OCDD was about 17%, i.e., PCDDs and DD which were adsorbed to the fly ash surfaces can evaporate into the gaseous phase. The difference between the evaporation behavior of PCDDs in the present and the previous studies is discussed in the light of their states of existence.     

Estimation on Biodegradability of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/V) and Numbers of Aerobic PHB/V Degrading Microorganisms in Different Natural Environments

To assess the capacity of the natural environment for degrading PHB/V, the film-MPN method proposed previously was modified to estimate the numbers of PHB/V degrading microorganisms (degraders) in various environments. The First-Order Reaction (FOR) model was used to determine the appropriate incubation period for the method. Numbers of aerobic PHB/V degraders were estimated in garden soil, paddy field soil, farm soil, river bank soil, infertile garden soil, river water, activated sludge, and seawater by the film-MPN method. Results were compared with those estimated by the clear-zone technique and showed that the film-MPN method was suitable for estimating the numbers of PHB/V degraders in the environments tested. On the other hand, biodegradability of injection molded PHB/V samples was investigated in several kinds of environments. The changes of weight were studied and results showed that biodegradability of PHB/V related to the numbers of PHB/V degraders in similar ecosystem in different regions. In different environments the biodegradability of PHB/V not only related to the number of PHB/V degraders, but also depended on whether there were conditions for the PHB/V degraders to grow and proliferate easily in the environment.     

Genetic stock structure of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius ) inferred by PCR-RFLP analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was performed on PCR amplified DNA fragments containing the control region of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758) mitochondrial DNA. A total of 456 individuals comprising 13 local samples (six Pacific, three Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, two Indian Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope) were surveyed with four endonucleases (Alu I, Dde I, Hha I and Rsa I), yielding a total of 52 composite genotypes. Within-sample genotypic diversity (H) was high ranging from 0.702 to 0.962 with a value of 0.922 for the pooled sample. Significant geographic variation in the frequencies of genotypes and restriction patterns was revealed. The Mediterranean sample was highly distinct from all other samples. Further, Rsa I digestion revealed high levels of polymorphism in all but the Mediterranean samples, indicating that exogenous swordfishes rarely enter that body of water. Heterogeneity between the North and South Atlantic samples was significant, both of which differed from those of the Pacific. In contrast, the Indian Ocean samples were not significantly different from the samples of South Atlantic and Pacific. Genetic differentiation among the Pacific samples was low. The results indicate that the world-wide swordfish population is genetically structured not only among, but also within ocean basins and suggest that gene flow is restricted despite the absence of geographic barriers. Received: 28 August 1996 / Accepted: 2 October 1996     

Growth and reproduction ofCaprella danilevskii (Crustacea: Amphipoda) reared in the laboratory

Caprella danilevskii Czerniavski, an epifaunal amphipod crustacean, was successfully reared for two generations under laboratory conditions. Amphipods were maintained in pairs or fours in a Petri dish. Temperature and photoperiod were maintained at 20°C, and 14 h light: 10 h dark, respectively. Colonies of the diatomCylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenberg) Reumann and Lewin were provided as food source. The red algaGelidium amansii (Lamouroux) Lamouroux was used to provide an attachment substrate for the caprellids. Juveniles that emerged from the brood pouch were described as instar I. Subsequent instars were identified by molts. Juveniles molted successively at 2.5 to 6.5 d intervals. The body length of males at each instar increased exponentially, while that of females followed a sigmoid curve. A different pattern of flagellar segment addition in the antenna I of males and females was revealed. At the age of 20.8 d, females reached instar VII, and produced their first embryos. After 5.1 d, juveniles emerged from the brood pouch. On average, females produced 5.4 clutches successively at 5.0 d intervals. The number of offspring per spawning increased from 6.3 at instar VII to 22.0 at instar XII. The total number of offspring was 69.0 for a female throughout her life span.     

Persistent organic pollutants in Detroit River suspended sediments: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans,dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes

Suspended sediments from the Detroit River were collected in 1999 and 2000 using sediment traps at sites ranging from western Lake Erie to southern Lake St. Clair and analyzed to determine the spatial distributions of contaminants including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs), dioxin-like PCBs (DLPCBs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). Concentrations of all three contaminant classes were clearly elevated at sites in the lower reaches of the river in the Trenton Channel. The potential influence of the Trenton Channel as a source of contamination to western Lake Erie was further evidenced by PCDD/PCDF homologue profiles, which indicated a contribution from chemical manufacturing in addition to the normal background combustion profile. Toxic equivalents (TEQs) for PCDDs/PCDFs generally exceeded those for DLPCBs; combined total TEQs in July 2000 for these two compound classes ranged from 2.30 pg/g in southern Lake St. Clair to 306 pg/g at a station just downstream of the outflow of Monguagon Creek in the Trenton Channel. The spatial distribution of PCN contamination was similar to that of PCDDs/PCDFs and DLPCBs, with the highest level of total PCNs (8200 ng/g) detected at a site in the Trenton Channel near Elizabeth Park; TEQs for PCNs in the Trenton Channel ranged from 73 to 3300 pg/g. The data indicate that PCNs represent a significant contribution to dioxin-like biological activity in Detroit River suspended sediments.     

CuCl2-catalyzed PCDD/F formation and congener patterns from phenols

Homologue and isomer patterns of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) in CuCl2-catalyzed formation were studied in an isothermal flow reactor using a distribution of 20 phenols as measured in municipal waste incinerator (MWI) exhaust gases. A mixture of 20 phenols was synthesized and used as reactants for this study because phenols are known to be key precursors in the formation of PCDD/F. Experiments were conducted at 400 degrees C. The 92% of nitrogen (N2) and 8% of oxygen (O2) were used as a carrier gas. PCDD/F homologue and isomer patterns with dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD) and dibenzofuran (DF) were obtained from a mixture of 20 phenols. DF+PCDF formation was favored over DD+PCDD formation. The major homologue groups formed were non-chlorinated DD and DF, and PCDD/F homologue fraction decreased with the degree of chlorination. PCDD/F homologue and isomer distributions were almost constant. Phenol and lower chlorinated phenols present in high amount played an important role in PCDD/F congener distributions. The results presented here can be used as characteristics or fingerprints for homologue and isomer patterns of PCDD/F formation attribution in CuCl2-catalyzed reaction from phenols.     

Factors affecting the evacuation decisions of coastal households during Cyclone Aila in Bangladesh

Despite sincere efforts by concerned agencies and recent improvements in hazard warnings, thousands of at-risk people did not evacuate during Aila, a category-I tropical cyclone that struck southwestern coastal Bangladesh in 2009. This study investigated the responses of the people affected by Aila to cyclone warnings and associated evacuation orders, and unveiled behavioural aspects that explain why they did or did not comply with the evacuation orders. Utilising the primary data collected from 420 households living in the severely affected coastal sub-district Koyra, located in Khulna District, this study found that although more than 97% of the households had received cyclone warnings and evacuation orders before Aila's landfall, only around 26% had evacuated. We also examined this study's empirical findings for factors that had dissuaded people from complying with the evacuation orders. Relevant test statistics along with results from principal component analysis suggested that the significant and systematic absenteeism of households from disaster preparedness training appears to be one of the key determinants that affected their evacuation decisions, along with factors related to warning messages, the attributes of cyclone shelters, risk perception, and socioeconomic aspects. A number of recommendations are also presented in this study for people at risk to improve their evacuation rates in future emergencies, not only to save their own lives but also to save their livestock.     

Unexpected release of HNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and related species from UV-illuminated TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> surface into air in photocatalytic oxidation of NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We have discovered that HNO₃ and related species are released from the TiO₂ surface into air in the TiO₂ photocatalytic oxidation of NO₂ (1 ppm) under continuous UV light illumination (1 mW cm⁻²) by dehumidifying the outlet gas of the reaction and analyzing the recovered condensate liquid by ion chromatography. The origin of the HNO₃ recovered in the dehumidifier could not be explained by a simple desorption of HNO₃ overproduced on the TiO₂ surface. The produced HNO₃ must be activated on the TiO₂ surface and causing the unidentified reaction.     

Urban tinkering

Cities are currently experiencing serious, multifaceted impacts from global environmental change, especially climate change, and the degree to which they will need to cope with and adapt to such challenges will continue to increase. A complex systems approach inspired by evolutionary theory can inform strategies for policies and interventions to deal with growing urban vulnerabilities. Such an approach would guide the design of new (and redesign of existing) urban structures, while promoting innovative integration of grey, green and blue infrastructure in service of environmental and health objectives. Moreover, it would contribute to more flexible, effective policies for urban management and the use of urban space. Four decades ago, in a seminal paper in Science, the French evolutionary biologist and philosopher Francois Jacob noted that evolution differs significantly in its characteristic modes of action from processes that are designed and engineered de novo (Jacob in Science 196(4295):1161–1166, 1977). He labeled the evolutionary process “tinkering”, recognizing its foundation in the modification and molding of existing traits and forms, with occasional dramatic shifts in function in the context of changing conditions. This contrasts greatly with conventional engineering and design approaches that apply tailor-made materials and tools to achieve well-defined functions that are specified a priori. We here propose that urban tinkering is the application of evolutionary thinking to urban design, engineering, ecological restoration, management and governance. We define urban tinkering as:

A mode of operation, encompassing policy, planning and management processes, that seeks to transform the use of existing and design of new urban systems in ways that diversify their functions, anticipate new uses and enhance adaptability, to better meet the social, economic and ecological needs of cities under conditions of deep uncertainty about the future.

This approach has the potential to substantially complement and augment conventional urban development, replacing predictability, linearity and monofunctional design with anticipation of uncertainty and non-linearity and design for multiple, potentially shifting functions. Urban tinkering can function by promoting a diversity of small-scale urban experiments that, in aggregate, lead to large-scale often playful innovative solutions to the problems of sustainable development. Moreover, the tinkering approach is naturally suited to exploring multi-functional uses and approaches (e.g., bricolage) for new and existing urban structures and policies through collaborative engagement and analysis. It is thus well worth exploring as a means of delivering co-benefits for environment and human health and wellbeing. Indeed, urban tinkering has close ties to systems approaches, which often are recognized as critical to sustainable development. We believe this concept can help forge much-closer, much-needed ties among engineers, architects, evolutionary ecologists, health specialists, and numerous other urban stakeholders in developing innovative, widely beneficial solutions for society and contribute to successful implementation of SDG11 and the New Urban Agenda.

     

Assessing local-scale inclusive wealth: a case study of Sado Island,Japan

Present trends of urbanization are accompanied by increasing demographic and economic shrinkage of rural regions. In countries such as Japan, these rural regions trail behind metropolitan counterparts according to GDP, the conventional measure used to guide governmental policies. Yet, past research suggests that these regions may be undervalued. Further, the Inclusive Wealth Index (IWI), largely only used at the national level, may be able to capture aspects previously missed. As such, our study attempts to highlight the wealth of rural regions by comparing the inclusive wealth of Sado Island and Japan between 1990 and 2014. Minor methodological modifications were made according to data availability at the local level and to improve the accuracy of human capital estimations. Results captured the ongoing shrinkage of Sado and demonstrate the distinct potential of the IWI as a stock measure. Sado’s per capita wealth was about 10% lower than the national averages, but its natural capital was about threefold national averages. Supplementary estimations of the natural capital of fisheries and cultivated forests suggest that inclusion of additional factors in the evaluation would further increase the relative valuation of rural regions. We discuss implications of our estimations for wellbeing, and conclude with a critical appraisal of the IWI calculation towards policy implementation of the index.